book details

Book: KHAMSIN, The Devil Wind of The Nile by Inge H. Borg

Inge H. Borg

about this book: The idea for this Historical Fiction about the First Dynasty of Egypt formed long ago. So long ago, as a matter of fact, that research had to be done in the library as the Internet hadn't been born yet. It was painstaking and constantly superseded by new discoveries.

But then, we don't know much about the First Dynasty of Egypt (a blessing for a fiction author writing about 3080 BC). Still, meticulous research of ancient sites and the way of life of the early Nile dwellers had to lend authenticity to this pre-Pyramid, pre-Pharaoh era of the Two Lands.

As the many compelling characters took shape, they took on a life of their own—and I began to like and empathize with several of them. For instance Ramose, the powerful High Priest of Ptah who practically ruled his weakling King Aha. Conversely, I took an intense dislike to the scheming Vizier Ebu al-Saqqara, just as I was repeatedly annoyed by the duplicity of the Royal Steward Beir. What to do with him? It was quite an intense feeling when I realized that, as the author, I had the power to 'do away with him.' Well, I assigned that task to a creature of the Egyptian sands.

Aha's insecure second consort, the whining Queen Hent, treats her willful step-daughter Princess Nefret with disdain. Just as much as we have to adore the forever scolding Royal Nurse Amma who despairs at the clumsiness of the dark slave Dokki, but is rendered helpless by the impish pranks of her royal charge.

From the lowly Hanni, the bent Ostrich-Egg Gatherer, to Aha's military genius, Grand General Makari with his four powerful generals, we meet Ramose's priests as well as Yadate, the spy from the Land of Punt (Ethiopia) who provides his beautiful supposed relative for General Barum's pleasure in the Kharga Oasis.

As the "Khamsin, The Devil Wind of The Nile" strikes, destinies are sealed, lives are lost, and legends are buried in the sand—to be unearthed during the "Sirocco, Storm over Land and Sea."

• Selected Editor's Choice, Historical Novels Review, August 2012

"Borg's narrative structure is as supple as it is strong; this is a big book in every way,...sprawling, ambitious, and marvelously executed. It's enthusiastically recommended."